Economic Madhouse

Several weeks ago David Fish sent me a pdf about the closure of Advantage West Midlands which, as David rightly says, will have an impact here given we are all less than ten miles from the West Mids.

It has taken me all this time to figure out how to make the pdf available on the blog.  Hopefully I have figured this out.  Click here to check.

In case it doesn't work, I also found this article in the Birmingham Post by Ian Austin, MP for Dudley North and Minister for the West Mids in the last Labour government.  He claims considerable success and I'm sure he is right.  Can we say the same for the East Mids equivalent?  Why not?

Fun and fundraising in the garden

The Lutterworth annual "Tea in the garden" took place on Saturday afternoon, 28th July, in Willy and Caroline`s garden, in Walcote. We had good weather, and over 70 people attended, and enjoyed the friendly, relaxed atmosphere. Excellent cakes were made and consumed by members; there were cake and book stalls, and a raffle. Jazz and light classical music was provided by Peter and elaine.

Tribute was paid to our dear friend and comrade Phil Fox, who passed away earlier this year.

 Liz Kendall, MP for Leicester West, attended and gave a rousing speech, as did Willy Bach.  Over £400 were raised for Branch funds.

Apprenticeships and the Minimum Wage

This is the first of two articles our branch secretary David Fish has contributed to the blog.

"A friend of mind through church is surviving on benefits and casual work.  He is receiving travel costs and free teaching in English and it’s amazing how he has improved.  He has done some ‘voluntary’ work in industry. Could it be making balloons? I will find out.

"After two months the factory are pleased and so offer him an apprenticeship for the job he can already do. He will receive £2.50 an hour, £100 a week and lose benefits.  In addition he will have to pay £25 a week travel.

"The company will receive £1500 for having an apprentice.

"I think that the apprentice system is a way of undermining the minimum wage."

Thanks, David. 

What do we think about the latest wheeze for massaging youth unemployment figures, the ominously-named National Citizen Service?